Work support for sewing machines



Oct. 10, 1939. H. c. MOULTON El AL 2,175,966

WORK surrom' FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 iilliltii:

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Har/ey C. fi/ou/fbn Charles 14/ Moe/(er 1939. H. C. MOULTON r-n- AL 2,175,955

WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHIES Original Filed April 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Har/e C. MOM/fan Char es- VM/Wuefler Oct. 10, 1939. H. c. MOULTON El AL 2,175,966

WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet s v 12 7', I v 9 114 my 4 A 4 v 11 m 4' ZZZ 115 V I J15 3mm:

Hay/g9 6'. Mou/von Char/es MK Mae/Aer Oct. 10, 1939. H. c. MOULTON El AL 2,175,966

' WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHIIES Original Filed April 14, 1936 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L K 7 f l 129 124 Fug. 5. 126 127 2 Har/ey C. Moat/1 0)? C/YCZT/S l l/. Mae/Aer SQWZTEEE W Oct. 10, 1939. H. c. MOULTON n AL 2,175,966

WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed April 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Har/e y C. Mou/fon 33M Char/es 144 Nae/Aer Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORK SUPPORT FOR SEWING MACHINES Original application April 14, 1936, Serial No.

74,362. Divided and this application January 7, 1938, Serial No. 183,892

27 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sewing machines generally, although more particularly to a pivoted work support of a blind stitch sewing machine.

This application constitutes a division of our copending application Serial N 0. 74,362, filed Apr. 14, 1936, for improvements in Blind stitch sewing machines.

When stitching heavy work, it is desirable to provide a strong spring to resist the downward movement of the work support, especially when cross seams are fed thereover. However, a strong spring is objectionable to the operator as it requires too much effort on her part to depress the work support each time the work is inserted in the machine or withdrawn therefrom,

The principal object of this invention is to provide means for eliminating the work support depression resisting effect of the heavy spring whenever the work support is lowered.

With the above and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sewing machine embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation, parts being broken away and in section,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 33 on Figure 2, the work support being in the normal elevated position,

Figure 4 is a detail view similar to Figure 3, the work support being shown depressed,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 on Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation 11- lustrating a knee-press equipment for depressing the work support,

Figure 7 is an inverted plan view illustrating the mounting of the knee-press equipment,

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the knee-press rod and crank lever dismounted,

Figure 9 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 9-9 on Figure 7,

Figure 10 is an inverted plan view of the work 9 support,

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line HH on Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a detail inverted plan view illustrating means for adjusting the tension of the spring which resists depression of the Work support.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The machine as illustrated'includes .a base A, a standard and overhanging arm B, a forwardly extending arm 0, a work support bracket D, a work support E,,and a horizontal presser foot '5! fixed to the front endof the arm 0. A stitch forming mechanism is mounted on the arm C and includes a needle 54 which reciprocates across the usual opening in the presser foot.

The base A is provided with a front cutout or recess 9 flanked by reinforcing lugs or wall portions l0 having formed therein horizontally .alined bearing bores. A bearing lug II is provided for facilitating the mounting of toggle links later to be described, anda clearancegroove or recess [2 is provided for accommodating movement of the devices by which the toggle links are actuated. Another bearing lug i3 is provided for supporting a tension adjusting bar which cooperates with the toggle positioning devices.

The Work support mounting bracket 1D comprises a body 88 whichis removably secured upon the base by screws 89, and the body has a raised, hollow housing portion 90 which is open at the front, and forwardly extending arms 9| each carrying a bearing 92. In these spacedbearings a pivot shaft. 93 is secured, and on this shaft the work support E is pivotally mounted to swing downwardly and rearwardly. The work support E is equipped with a cone seat bearing 94 to receive the conical end 95 of the shaft 93. The other end of the shaft 93 is equipped with a conical seat 96 .to .receive the conical end of a bearing screw 9.! which is mounted for projection and retraction in a screw bearing 98 provided in the work support E, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the work support E is pivotally mounted along a line paralleling the main shaft 2| and at a point well in advance of thestitch forming :zone. In this manner a relatively large clearance between the work support and the presser foot is provided for by a relatively small amount of depression of the work support.

The work support E is provided with a lateral extension 99 underlying the presser foot and at its end this extension supports a pivotally and yieldably mounted work clamp I09 which cooperates with the presser foot.

ing element lfll which in this particular disclosure is in the form of an oscillatory-disc. The disc is disposed beneath the longitudinal slot 52 in the presser foot and is fixed to a rock shaft I02 supported in bearings I03 provided in the unit E and arranged in parallelism with the main shaft 2i. Oscillatory movement is imparted to the shaft I02 and the disc IOI through the medium of a crank I04 secured upon said shaft and having connection with the link 32 which is actuated from the main shaft 2|. Depression of the work support is normally opposed by a strong spring designed to permit a yielding movement of the work support away from the presser foot to adapt the machine to operate upon materials of uneven thickness. It is desirable that the operator should not be subjected to the strain incident to depressing the work support against the tension of the heavy spring and for this reason we have provided means for disabling the heavy spring when it is desired to depress the work support for inserting or removing the work. For this purpose the work support E is provided with a cup-socket I05 in which operates a vertically movable plunger or support I06 opposed by a heavy coil spring I01 mounted in said socket and providing said strong spring resistance. A reduced portion I08 of the plunger or support I06 extends through an aperture in the work support and carries an enlarged head I09 which operates in a recess formed in the work support and serves to limit the upward movement of the work support E relative to the plunger or support I05 and thereby initially set the work support relative to the presser foot. The plunger I06 is pivotally connected to the upper one of a pair of upper and lower toggle links IIO which are pivotally connected as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, and. the lower link of which is pivoted as at III between the reinforcing lugs I with which the base A is provided. When the toggle links IIO are in vertical alinementwith the lower pivot I I I and the plunger I06, the latter is locked and consequently the work support E is locked against full depression, but the work support however is capable of being slightly'depressed against the tension of the spring I01 to permit different thicknesses of fabrics and seams passing under the presser foot. An operating link H2 is pivotally connected to the lower toggle link and is reciprocable back and forth within the raised, hollow housing portion 90 of the bracket body by reason of movement of the bell crank lever II3 to one arm of which said operating link is connected. The bell crank lever H3 is pivoted as at II to the base lug II and has its remaining arm connected by a chain or otherwise to a foot treadle (not shown). It will be readily seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that by pulling downwardly on the chain II5 the operating link I I2 will be thrust forwardly breaking the toggle and pulling the work support downwardly from the position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings to that shown in Figure 4.

Intentional depression of the work support by a downward pull upon the chain H5 is resisted only by a relatively light resistance spring H6 which is connected at one end to the bell crank lever H3 and at its other end to an adjustable anchor bar Ill. The bar II! is pivotally supported at II8 intermediate its ends on the base lug I3. An adjustable screw IIQ engages the other end of the bar III and by this means the tension of the spring IIG may be adjusted. An adjustable stop screw I20 is carried by the lower toggle link H0 in position for engaging the adjacent wall of the base recess 9 for limiting the movement of the toggle links in the normal relation of the parts illustrated in Figure 3 against the tension of the spring H6.

In order to vary the spaced relation between the needle and the ridge forming element, we provide a bell crank lever I2I which is pivotally supported upon the pivot shaft 93 and which includes a depending substantially vertical arm and a substantially horizontal and rearwardly extended arm. The vertical arm carries an adjustable stop screw I22 which is engageable with a stop lug on the bracket D for determining the position of the work support as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings. An adjustment lever I23 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at I24 in a bifurcation or slotway formed in the rearwardly extended end of the horizontal arm of the bell crank I2 I, and the rear end of the lever I23 overlies and engages a shelf member I25 which is removably secured to the rear edge of the work support as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The front end of the lever I23 overlies an end of an adjuster bar I26 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at I21 upon a lug extending laterally from the horizontal portion of the bell crank lever I2I. The remaining end of the adjuster bar is engaged by an adjuster screw I29 which extends downwardly through a threaded bore provided therefor in the work support E. The work support E is equipped with a recess or well I30 for accommodating the operating knob I3I with which the screw I29 is equipped and through the medium of which the screw may be adjusted for depressing to a greater or lesser extent the end of the adjuster bar I26 with which the screws contact.

It will be readily understood that by turning the knob I3I so as to move the screw downwardly, the bar I26 will be actuated to exert an upward pressure on the forward end of the adjustment lever I23 causing the rear end thereof to be depressed against the shelf member I25 to increase the space between the needle and the ridge forming element and thereby reduce the depth of needle penetration in the fabric. Obviously a movement of the knob I3I in the opposite direction will serve to diminish the space within the limit determined by the limiting head I09 to thereby increase the depth of needle penetration in the fabrics. A light coil spring I32 connected between the front edge of the work support and the vertical arm of the bell crank lever I2 I, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, serves at all times to hold the shelf I25, lever I23, bar I26, and screw I29 in mutual contact.

The adjustment lever I23 pivotally supported in a bifurcation in and extended from the rear end of the horizontal bell crank lever arm, forms a longitudinal extension of that arm and by adjustment of the position of the lever the effective angular relation of the arms of the bell crank is varied. Thus by reason of the contact of the vertical arm with the stop lug on the bracket D, and. the horizontal arm and its adjustable lever extension with the work support shelf I25 the varying of the effective angular relation of the bell crank arms will vary the spaced relation between the presser foot and the work support.

If desired, a knee-press may be substituted for the treadle and chain equipment I I5 and utilized for effecting depression of the work support E. See Figures 6, '7, 8 and 9. The knee-press includes a crank rod I33 to the vertical leg of which is adjustably affixed a knee-press plate I34. The horizontal leg I35 of the rod is pivotally supported in bearings I36 on the base A and carries a rigidly afiixed crank lever I31, the cam end I38 of which overlies the horizontal leg of the bell crank lever H3 as shown in Figures 7 and 9.

By forcing the knee-press plate I34 to the right, or as shown by the arrow in Figure 6, the crank lever I31 will be depressed and the cam portion I38 thereof will press downwardly upon the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever H3 and impart thereto the same work support depressing movement as would be imparted by use of the chain H5 hereinbefore described.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim 1 1 In a sewing machine wherein is provided a base and a presser foot, a work support pivotally supported above said base and having a portion extended beneath said presser foot, strong spring means interposed between said support and said baseand normally resisting depression of said support, and means operable to render ineffective said strong spring means and for depressing said support to provide work manipulation clearance and including a light spring connected to said base and said operable means to resist said clearance providing work support depression.

2. In a sewing machine wherein is provided a base and a presser foot, a work support pivotally supported above said base and having a portion extended beneath said presser foot, strong spring means interposed between said support and said base and normally resisting depression of said support, means operable to render ineffective said strong spring means andfor depressing said support to provide work manipulation clearance and including a light spring connected to said base and said operable means to resist said clearance providing work support depression, and means carried by and beneath said work support for varying the spaced relation between the extended portion thereof and the presser foot which it underlies.

3. In a sewing machine wherein is provided a base and a presser foot, a work support pivotally supported above said base and having a portion extended beneath said presser foot, strong spring means interposed between said support and said base and normally resisting depression of said support, means operable to render ineffective said strong spring means and for depressing said support to provide work manipulation clearance and including a light spring connected to said base and said operable means to'resist said clearance pro viding work support depression, and means for varying the tension of said light spring.

4.. In a sewing machine wherein is provided a base and a presser foot, a work support pivotally supported above said base and having a portion extended beneath. said presser foot, strong spring means interposed between said support and said base and normally resisting depression of said support, means operable to render ineffective said strong spring means and for depressing said support to provide work manipulation clearance and including a light spring connected to said base and said operable means to resist said clearance providing work support depression, a tension adjusting bar pivoted intermediate its ends on said base and toone end of which said light spring is connected, and an adjusting screw carried by the base and engaging the other end of said bar for effecting adjustments of the tension of said light spring.

5. In a sewingmachine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, and means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot.

6. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the eiTective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot, said yieldable means including normally extended toggle links, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support.

7. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a de pressible work support, major yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said' support and foot, said yieldable means including normally extended toggle links, means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support, and minor or weaker resistance spring means for resisting the breaking of the toggle links" and. for returning said links to their normal extended position.

8. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, major yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable withsaid stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, said yieldable means including normally extended'toggle links, means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support, and minor or weaker resistance spring means for resisting. the breaking of the toggle links and for returning said links to their normal extended position.

9. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, means for pivotally supporting said work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a pivoted bell crank lever having one arm engage able with the stop for limiting movement of.the 4 work support toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivotally secured to and forming an extension of the other arm of the bell crank lever and engaging the worksupportto-cooperate with said one arm in its worksupport position limiting function, and means. for moving the adjusting lever to vary the spaced relation of saidwork support and foot.

10. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, means for pivotally supporting said work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a pivoted bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the stop for limiting movement of the work support toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivotallysecured to and forming an extension of the other armof the bell crank lever and engaging the 'worksupport to cooperate with said one arm in'its work-support-position limiting function, a pivotally supported adjuster bar engaging the adjustment lever for moving it about its pivot to cause it to vary the spaced relation of said work support and foot, and means to adjust the position of the adjuster bar for the purpose specified.

11. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a de pressible work support, means for pivotally supporting said work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a pivoted bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the stop for limiting movement of the work support toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivotally secured to and forming an extension of the other arm of the bell crank lever and engaging the work support to cooperate with said one arm in its work support position limiting function, a pivotally supported adjuster bar engaging the adjustment lever for moving it about its pivot to cause it to vary the spaced relation of said work support and foot, means to adjust the position of the adjuster bar for the purpose specified, and spring means for constantly holding said stop, said one arm of the bell crank, said work support, said adjustment lever, said adjuster bar, and said adjuster bar position adjusting means in mutual contact.

12. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a piv otally supported depressible work support, yieldable means urging said work support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever pivoted on an axis in common with the work support axis and having one arm engageable with the stop for limiting movement of the work support toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon and forming a longitudinal extension of the other arm of the bell crank lever and having its extended end engaging the work support to cooperate with said one arm in its work support position limiting function, an adjuster bar pivoted intermediate its ends upon the bell crank lever and having one end underlying the other end of the adjustment lever, and an adjuster screw carried by the work support and engaging the other end of the adjuster bar to cause movement of the bar and the adjustment lever about their pivots to vary the spaced relation of said work support and foot.

13. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a pivotally supported depressible work support, yieldable means urging said work support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever pivoted on an axis in common with the work support axis and having one arm engageable with the stop for limiting movement of the work support toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon and forming a longitudinal extension of the other arm of the bell crank lever and having its extended end engaging the work support to cooperate with said one arm in its work support position limiting function, an adjuster bar pivoted intermediate its ends upon the bell crank lever and having one end underlying the other end of the adjustment lever, an adjuster screw carried by the work support and engaging the other end of the adjuster bar to cause movement of the bar and the adjustment lever about their pivots to vary the spaced relation of said work support and foot, and a knob on said screw, said work support having a depression in which said knob is operable out of position for interfering with the feeding of work over said work support.

14. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a pivotally supported depressible work support, yieldable means urging said work support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever piv oted on an axis in common with the work support axis and having one arm engageable with the stop for limiting movement of the work sup port toward said foot, an adjustment lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon and forming a longitudinal extension of the other arm of the bell crank lever and having its extended end engaging the work support to cooperate with said one arm in its work support position limiting function, an adjuster bar pivoted intermediate its ends upon the bell crank lever and having one end underlying the other end of the adjustment lever, an adjuster screw carried by the work support and engaging the other end of the adjuster bar to cause movement of the bar and the adjustment lever about their pivots to vary the spaced relation of said work support and foot. and a spring interposed between said bell crank lever and the work support and serving to constantly hold said stop, said one arm of the bell crank, said work support, said adjustment lever, said adjustment bar and said screw in mutual contact.

15. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a

depressible work support, yieldable means urging k said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot, said work support having a socket therein, said yieldable means including a plunger operable in said socket, a spring opposing movement of said plunger, and normally extended toggle links con nected with said plunger, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support.

16. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a secondary limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot, said work support having an apertured socket therein, said yieldable means including a plunger operable in said socket, a spring opposing movement of said plunger, normally extended toggle links connected with said plunger, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support, said plunger having a stop head engageable with the work support to constitute a primary stop determining the minimum of spaced relation between the foot and the work support, and an adjustable stop screw constituting said secondary stop and cooperating With said angular relation varying means in determining spaced relation of foot and work support greater than the minimum.

17. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot, said yieldable means including normally extended toggle links, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support, said last named means comprising an operating link connected 75 to said toggle links, a bell crank lever associated with and adapted for imparting movement to said operating link, and a knee lever for imparting movement to said operating link associated bell crank lever.

18. In a sewing machine, a presser foot, a depressible work support, yieldable means urging said support toward said foot, a limiting stop, a bell crank lever having one arm engageable with the support and another arm engageable with said stop for limiting movement of the support toward said foot, means for varying the effective angular relation of said arms to vary the spaced relation of said support and foot, said work support having a socket therein, said yieldable means including a plunger operable in said socket, a spring opposing movement of said plunger, and normally extended toggle links connected with said plunger, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support, said last named means comprising an operating link connected to said toggle links, a bell crank lever associated with and adapted for imparting movement to said operating link, and a knee lever for imparting movement to said operating link associated bell crank lever.

19. In a sewing machine, a depressible work support, means including normally extended toggle links for normally holding said support in operative position, and means for breaking the toggle links and depressing the support comprising an operating link connected to said toggle links, a bell crank lever associated with' and adapted for imparting movement to said operating link, and a knee lever for imparting movement to said operating link associated bell crank lever.

20. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion disposed under said foot, means interposed between the base and the work support for releasably locking said support against full depression but permitting a slight depression thereof, said means including a spring supported on and movable with the work support and eiTective for yield ably retaining the work support against said slight depression, and means for releasing said locking means and effecting a full depression of said work support.

21. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a. base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion' disposed under said foot, means interposed between the base and the work support for releasably locking said support against full depression but permitting a slight depression thereof, said means including a spring for yieldably retaining the work support against said slight depression, means for releasing said locking means and eifecting a full depression of said work support, and manually operable means for variably limiting the upper position of the work support relative to the presser foot.

22. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion disposed under said foot, a vertically movable support for the work support, yieldable means located between the movable support and the work support for permitting a limited downward movement of the work support relative to the foot, and releasable locking means between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement.

23. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horiozntal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion disposed under said foot, a vertically movable support for the work support, yieldable means located between the movable support and the work support for permitting a limited downward movement of the work support relative to the .foot, and releasable locking means including a toggle between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement.

24. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis located in front of the foot and having a portion disposed under said foot, a vertically movable support for the work support, yieldable means located between the movable support and the work support for permitting a limited downward movement of the work support relative to the foot, and releasable locking means disposed in rear of the work support axis and between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement.

25. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion disposed under said foot, a vertically movable support for the work support, yieldable means located between the movable support and the work support for permitting a limited downward movement of the work support relative to the foot, releasable locking means between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement, and manually operable means for variably limiting the upper position of the work support relative to the presser foot.

26. In a blind stitch sewing machine, the combination with a frame including a base and a forwardly extending arm, of a horizontal presser foot rigidly attached to the free end of said arm, a work support mounted on the base to swing about a horizontal axis and having a portion disposed under said foot, a vertically movable support for the work support, yieldable means located between the movable support and the work support for permitting a limited-downward movement of the work support relative to the foot, a stop carried by the vertically movable support for limiting the upward movement of the work support relative thereto, and releasable locking means between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement.

stop carried by the vertically movable support for limiting the upward movement of the work support relative thereto, releasable locking means between the movable support and the base for normally retaining said movable support against downward movement, and manually operable means for variably limiting the upper position of the work support relative to the presser foot.

HARLEY C. MOULTON CHARLES W. MUELLER. 

